Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable? - Wisler Plumbing & Air

“Flushable” wipes might be very convenient in the short-term, but they probably won’t be in the long-term. Many are advertised as flushable, but they’re still not healthy for your plumbing system. If you Google it, you’ll see that even public sewage disposal systems have had to adapt in the recent years to take on a high level of fiber-type material that’s in the sewage.

A septic system works because of bio material that breaks down biodegradable materials like toilet paper. Wipes are generally much stronger and thicker than toilet paper. So yes, they may be flushable, but it’s not toilet paper. They’re going to sit in the storage tank, and if you’re using a lot of them, they’re going to build up and cause problems.

They aren’t too common in the United States yet, but one thing to consider is a bidet. They have tremendous benefits, especially around hygiene. Using a bidet is cleaner than toilet paper, and if you’re caring for someone sick or elderly, they can be very handy.

I think of a client I had one time that had a cancer patient in their home that was constantly getting sick. They were using a lot of wipes and causing problems with their system. If you’re dealing with that, you definitely want to look into other solutions. One of them might be a bidet, or if you need to use wipes, put them in the waste basket instead of flushing.

If you’re interested in a bidet, you can reach out to us at Wisler Plumbing and Air. We generally use what’s called a bidet seat, which essentially transforms your toilet seat to second as a bidet. If you’d like more information, you can call us at 540-483-9382.